Education for Sustainable Development
The purpose of this site is to be a repository for resources, information, opportunities, and events related to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), for students, teachers, parents, and community members.
Manitoba Education and Training has developed a Vision Statement that summarizes their Education for Sustainable Development initiatives:
Students will become informed and responsible decision-makers, playing active roles as citizens of Canada and the world, and will contribute to social, environmental, and economic well-being, and an equitable quality of life for all, now and in the future. ( http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/esd/index.html)
This site will house links, resources, opportunities, and events (for both students and staff), and highlight events and activities within our division. All will assist in educating our youth regarding issues related to poverty, human rights, health, environmental protection, and climate change.
Stay tuned as this site is developed, and please feel free to contribute your own ideas and resources, which may be forwarded to Valerie Kachur or (204) 483-6234.
Links/Outside Resources:
Voices Into Action - Social Justice Issues
Divisional Initiatives:
On an ongoing basis, many of our schools are involved in initiatives with either an environmental or social focus. Led by teachers, student councils, or social justice groups, these projects all help students become more active and responsible citizens.
Plastic Bags – Many of our students are on a mission to reduce waste by collecting plastic grocery bags, to be shipped away and recycled into more useful items. Students are hoping that shoppers will get in the habit of using re-usable bags to help eliminate single-use plastics. If you have any plastic grocery bags to donate, they can be dropped off at Hartney, Melita, Souris, or Wawanesa School.
Eliminating Hunger – Students are also helping to fight hunger in their communities by collecting non-perishable food items and monetary donations to go to their local food banks. Donations can be dropped off at Deloraine, Hartney, Melita, Souris, Waskada, or Wawanesa School.
Tabs for Wheelchairs – Students in Melita and Souris are collecting tabs from aluminum cans to send to the “Tabs for Wheelchairs” organization. This scrap metal gets sold, and the money raised from that goes towards buying specialized wheelchairs for students in Manitoba.
Compost Worms – At Waskada school, the grade 7 and 8 students are responsible for feeding and caring for their compost worms year round. Students gather compostable materials to feed the worms once per week, and maintain the worms’ habitat until summer, when they are deposited into a garden outside. The compost is used in home garden, and for beautification projects at the school.
In addition to these ongoing projects, many of our schools also run more seasonal endeavours; collecting supplies and donations for Operation Christmas Child, collecting and dispersing warm clothing during the winter months, running mental health awareness campaigns around Bell Let’s Talk day, and fundraising for the Terry Fox Run. Some schools have also embarked on more globally-focused issues, including fundraising for hurricane relief, clean water, and equitable schools. Contact your local school for more information about these initiatives.